Mechanism for stagger piling of metal sheets



1962 D. BUCCICONE 3,020,810

MECHANISM FOR STAGGER PILING OF METAL SHEETS Filed Oct. 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 IN V EN TOR. ,Daz'io ,5 1/00 z'c 01? e Feb. 13, 1962 D. BUCCICONE 3,020,810

MECHANISM FOR STAGGER PILING OF METAL SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1959 Feb. 13, 1962 D. BUCCICONE 3,020,810

MECHANISM FOR STAGGER PILING OF METAL SHEETS Filed Oct. 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. LDarzo 21001 0012a Feb. 13, 1962 D. BUCCICONE 3,020,810

MECHANISM FOR STAGGER FILING 0F METAL SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 22, 1959 I I L llLll KEF" F" E:

f J L INVENTOR. #50110 fiac'oz C0226 United States Patent 10* 3,020,810 MECHANISM FOR STAGGER PILING F METAL SHEETS Dario Buccicone, Gary, Ind, assignor to Bucciconi Engineering Co., Inc., Gary, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 847,956 18 Claims. (Cl. 9393) This invention relates to piler apparatus for metal sheets and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a piler mechanism which is adapted to arrange the sheets in staggered relation in the pile.

In the normal piling operation, metal sheets are delivered from the shear or other apparatus in a high speed processing line to a piler machine which deposits the successive sheets on a pile with their edges in vertical alignment. However, it is sometimes desirable to pile the sheets in groups of a predetermined number, arranged in staggered relation, so that when they are removed from the machine, usually by hand, the operator may grasp a group of the sheets and thus remove a plurality of the sheets from the pile at one time. To facilitate the removal of the sheets in groups or tiers of a definite number, mechanism must be provided to arrange the sheets initially in such relation in the pile, with each group or tier of sheets being staggered at one edge relative to the adjacent tiers of sheets. It is a general object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a piler having incorporated therein mechanism for arranging metal sheets in staggered relation in a piling operation with the sheets being in groups or tiers of a predetermined number and with each tier being oifset relative to the adjacent tiers so that space is provided along an edge of the pile for the handler to insert his fingers and lift the top tier off the pile.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a sheet piling machine having incorporated therein an overhead conveyor which receives the sheets from the processing line and advances them into position for deposit by gravity on a support beneath the same, the machine including end stop and back stop members which are engaged by the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of the successive sheets and which are so constructed that they may be operated, when desired, to guide the sheets into final position on the pile between the members with the sheets arranged in staggered tiered relation.

.It is a further object of the invention to provide a piler mechanism for handling metal sheets wherein the sheets are advanced by an overhead magnetic conveyor to a position above a pile and released to drop by gravity onto the ,top of the pile beneath the same, the piler mechanism having end stop and back stop devices which are adapted to guide into predetermined position the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of the sheets, which stop mechanisms include bumper devices spaced a greater distance apart than the corresponding dimension of the sheets and vertically movable bumper stop plates mounted on the bumper devices so as to be alternately positioned to reduce the distance between the bumper devices and guide the sheets in staggered relation onto the pile.

It is another object of the invention to provide in apparatus of the type described end stop and back stop members having vertically movable bumper stop plates arranged in front of the stop members which bumper stop plates are adapted to be adjustably positioned vertically between a lower sheet engaging position and an upper out-of-the-way position, and a mechanism for controlling the position of the bumper stop plates so that they may be raised and lowered in alternate relation upon the de- 3,020,810 Patented Feb. 13, 192

posit of a predetermined number of sheets on the pile whereby the sheets will be arranged upon the pile in tiers and in staggered relation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus of the type described end stop and back stop members which have vertically adjustable bumper stop plates arranged in vertical sliding engagement with the front faces of the stop members so that the same cushioning force is applied to the sheets regardless of whether the bumper stop plates are adjusted for staggering or nonstaggering operation of the apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in an apparatus of the type described end stop mechanism having associated therewith a vertically adjustable bumper stop plate which rests on the front face of the end stop bumper pad and which is free to move therewith when the ends of the plates strike the same.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a piler apparatus of the type described having end stop and back stop mechanisms which are provided with vertically adjustable bumper stop plates arranged for adjustably positioning between a lower sheet engaging position and an upper out-of-the-way position and having a device at the lower edge thereof for preventing the sheets from sliding under the bumper stop plates when they are in the lower top of the pile engaging position.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a piler mechanism of the type described auxiliary end stop and back stop bumper members which are adjustable between a lower top of the pile engaging position and an upper out-of-use position which auxiliary bumper members have mounted on their lower ends devices normally held in extended position forwardly of the sheet engaging face thereof so as to engage beneath the edges of the sheets while they are being piled, thereby preventing the sheets from sliding beneath the edges of the bumper members, such devices being automatically withdrawn from beneath the edges of the sheets, upon upward movement of the auxiliary, bumper members, withoutdisturbing the position of the sheets on the pile.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the piler apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly schematic, and with portions broken away, of a sheet piler having incorporated therein mechanism embodying the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 2, the view being taken generally on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, with portions broken away or omitted;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 2, the view being taken generally on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; i

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross section taken on the'line 6-6 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale, with portions broken away or omitted;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a top portion of the back stop apparatus of FIGURE '7;

FIGURE 9 is a cross section taken generally on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7, to an enlarged scale, and with FIGURE 11 is a cross section taken on the line 11--11 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a wiring diagram of the electrical controls for the mechanism; and

FIGURES 13, 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the air cylinder control valves. The apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings and which embodies the principal features of the present in vention is an improvement on the apparatus disclosed in my copending application, Mechanism for Stagger Piling Metal Sheets, Serial No. 559,849, filed January 18, 1956 now Patent No. 2,918,852, dated December 29, 1959. The apparatus is particularly designed for use in combination with rail type magnetic conveyors of the character disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,374,174, dated April 24, 1945; 2,600,475, dated June 17, 1952; and 2,642,174, dated June 16, 1953. However, it is understood that it is not intended to limit the mechanism herein disclosed to use with magnetic rail type conveyors but it is contemplated that it may be used with other types of overhead conveyors where piling of the sheets in staggered relation is desired. y In the apparatus, as illustrated inFIGURE 1 of the drawings, the metal sheets S are received from a shear or other equipment in a processing line on the driven belt conveyor 10 which delivers or feeds the sheets to the entry end of an overhead magnetic type conveyor 11. The magnetic conveyor 11 comprises a plurality of transversely spaced rail-like conveyor units 12, each of which includes a pair of longitudinally spaced sheaves 13 and 14, at least one of which is power driven, and a plurality of laterally spaced endless belts 15 (FIGURE 7) extending around the sheaves. The conveyor rail units 12 are supported at their opposite ends on cross beams 16 and 17 which are suitably mounted on end support frames 18 and 19, respectively. Each rail unit 12 contains a plurality of electromagnets (not shown) which have down- .wardly facing poles and which, while energized, are adapted to hold the sheets S against the underside of the belts 15 so that the belts can advance the sheets toward the left in FIGURE 1.

A suitable control means is provided for energizing and deenergizing the electromagnets to cause the successive sheets to be held against the lower runs of the belts 15 until they are advanced a predetermined distance toward the left when they are released, by deenergizing of the magnets, and allowed to deposit on a pile beneath .the conveyor. The control mechanism may consist of a normally closed control switch having an operating arm as indicated at 20 which extends into the path of the leading edge of the sheet as it advances on the underside of the conveyor 11. The position of the switch control arm 20 is adjusted so that the leading edge of each sheet S engages the arm to open the switch which deenergizes the magnets, and releases the sheet as the sheet reaches ithe proper position for deposit on the top of the pile beneath the same.

A lift arrangement or vertically adjustable table 21 is provided beneath the conveyor 11 which supports the pile 22 of sheets S. An end stop mechanism 23 and a back stop mechanism 24 are arranged on the machine in longitudinally spaced relation beneath the conveyor 11, the back stop mechanism 24 being supported in fixed position at one end of the elevator 21 on the end frame 18 ,while the end stop mechanism 23 is mounted for movement longitudinally of the conveyor 11 so that the machine may be adjusted for handling sheets of different lengths. The mechanisms thus far referred to, except for the end stop and back stop mechanisms, are not per se a part of the present invention but can be of any standard or desired construction, and, therefore, are not shown or described in greater detail. The prior patents referred to above disclose in detail suitable magnetic rail type conveyor units with which the present invention may be employed and these patents may be referred to for details not herein described.

The end stop mechanism 23 and the back stop mechanism 24 are adjusted in the horizontal direction, when the machine is used for stagger piling, so that the normal distance between their oppositely disposed main faces or bumper pads is greater than the dimension of the sheets in the same direction in order that the sheets may be arranged in the pile in staggered relation, the stop mechanisms being so constructed and operated that one end of the sheets in each group or tier is positioned adjacent the face of the main bumper pad of one of the stop mechanisms, while the other end thereof is spaced from the face of the main bumper pad of the other stop mechanism a sufiicient distance, usually in the neighborhood of two inches, to enable the handler to position his fingers beneath the edge of the uppermost group or tier of sheets at one end of the pile.

The end stop mechanism 23 is suspended, as shown in FIGURES 1 to 5, so that the sheet engaging portion thereof projects below the lower face of the conveyot 11. This mechanism depends from a supporting carriage 25 which is movably mounted above the top surfaces of a pair of elongate laterally spaced housings 26 (FIGURES 1 and 2) in which carriage mounting and ad- 'justing screws 27 are supported. The housings 26 which are mounted on the top surfaces of the conveyor rail units 12 have the adjusting screws 27 journaled at opposite ends therein. The screws 27 carry nut formations 28, each of which has a neck portion extending upwardly through a guide slot 30 in the top of the housing 26 and connected to the bottom of the carriage 25 so that rotation of the screws 27 moves the carriage along the conveyor 11 and adjusts the position of the mechanism 23. The screws 27 are rotated by the drive motor 31 which is mounted on a suitable bracket at the one end of the housings 26 and connected by a chain and sprocket drive 32 with the sprockets 34 which are secured on the extended end portions of the screws 27. Operation of the motor 31, of course, moves the end stop mounting carriage 25 so as to position the end stop mechanism 23 the proper distance from the back stop mechanism 24 for piling the length of sheet which is delivered to the machine.

The end stop mechanism 23 comprises a vertically positioned bumper stop frame or bracket member 35 (FIG- URES 2 and 3) which forms a backing or support for a bumper pad 36 of rubber or similar resilient material against which the leading or forward edge of the sheet S is adapted to be projected in a normal piling operation. The bumper pad 36 and its supporting bracket 35 are made in two right and left hand sections which are carried on vertically extending plate-like brackets 37. The brackets 37 form the vertically disposed leg 38 of an L-shaped supporting arm or double arm frame 39, the latter having a horizontally disposed longer leg 40 which is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the lower ends of pairs of vertically disposed, parallel links or suspending bars 41 and 42. The suspending link members 41 and 42 are secured on and depend from longitudinally spaced, transversely extending horizontal shafts 43 and 44 which are journaled in pairs of transversely spaced bearing supports 45 and 46 on the upper face of the base plate of the carriage 25. The link arms 41 and 42 have upwardly projecting end portions 47 and 48 which are pivotally connected to opposite ends of longitudinally disposed link bars 50 which hold the links 41 and 42 in parallel relation. The one cross shaft 43 has a rocker arm 51 extending generally horizontally which is pivotally connected at its free end to the lower end of the vertically disposed piston 52 of an operating air or hydraulic cylinder 53, the latter having its upper end pivoted at 54 to one end of a yoke-like bracket arm 55 which is supported on the cross bar 56 of an upstanding inverted U-shaped bracket or frame 57 which extends upwardly of the base plate of the carriage 25. Operation of the air cylinder 53, of course, rocks the shaft 43 and moves the parallel links 41 and 42 back and forth which carries the pad 36 in a substantially horizontal path, the cylinder 53 normally holding the pad 36 in its forward position and yielding to permit the horizontal movement of the same when a sheet edge strikes the face thereof with the pad 36 being returned to its forward position by the cylinder 53 as the force exerted by the plate is dissipated.

The end bumper mechanism 23 has mounted thereon a vertically adjustable or movable auxiliary bumper stop device 60 (FIGURES 2 to 5) which is employed for stagger piling. The stagger bumper stop 60 comprises a vertical face pad 61 of suitable resilient material which is mounted on a vertically disposed supporting bracket v62. The pad 61 (FIGURES 2 and 3) may be in two sections, right and left hand, which are arranged in the form of an inverted T-shaped face on the supporting bracket 62. The supporting bracket 62 has a pair of laterally spaced, rearwardly and vertically extending flanges or ribs 63 on the rear face of the vertical stem portion thereof which are each provided with a pair of spaced, rearwardly projecting arm portions 64 providing for pivotal connection with the lower ends of pairs of parallel supporting links 65 which are disposed in generally vertical position and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the forwardly extending bracket arm 66 at the top of a vertically movable carriage 67. The carriage 67 is supported for vertical travel in a guideway formation 68 which is provided by a pair of channel members arranged in oppositely disposed relation so as to form a hollow post extending in generally vertical depending relation from the carriage 25. The upper end of the combination guideway and housing forming post extends through an aperture provided in the base of the carriage 25 and has a top plate 68 which is pivotally connected along one edge at 69 with the carriage 25. At its opposite end the plate 68' is held in a normally horizontal position by a compression spring '70, the latter being mounted on a headed stop pin 71 which extends through a hole provided therefor in the top plate 68'. The carriage 67 has vertically spaced flanged rollers 72 which ride on the flanges of the channels forming the housing 68. The carriage 67 has a forwardly projecting bracket arm 72 above the bracket arm 66 which is pivotally connected to the free end of a lifting arm 73, the latter having its other end pivotally connected at 73' to the lower end of a swingably mounted suspension bracket or arm 74 which is secured at its upper end to a small cross shaft 75, with the latter being journaled in laterally spaced bearing members 76 on the top face of the base plate of the carriage 25. The lifting arm 73 is pivoted at 77 immediate its ends to the lower end of the piston 78 of a vertically disposed operating air cylinder 80 which has its upper end pivotally connected at 81 to the end of the longitudinally extending bracket 55 which supports at its opposite end the air cylinder 53 for cushioning the horizontal movement of the main bumper stop. Operation of the air cylinder 80, of course, lowers and raises the stagger bumper mechanism 61) into and out of operating position in front of the main bumper stop pad 36, the pivotal support for the guide housing 68 allowing the latter to swing suliiciently to permit movement of the lifting arm 73. To balance the weight of the stagger bumper mechanism 60, which is quite heavy when assembled, a vertically disposed rod 82 is pivotally connected to the lifting arm 73 at 83 and extends vertically through an aperture in the horizontally disposed arm 84 of an upstanding angle bracket 85 which is secured on the forward end of the carriage 25. The upper end of the rod 82 projects above the bracket arm 84 and receives a compression spring 86 which engages at its lower end with the bracket arm 84 and at its upper end with a stop nut 87 in threaded engagement on the end of the rod so that the compression 6 in the spring 86 may be adjusted to help balance the weight of the stagger bumper mechanism 60.

The stagger bumper carriage 67 is provided at its lower end with a forwardly projecting foot or arm member 88 on the end of which an angular shaped sheet edge supporting member 90 is pivotally mounted. The shorter arm 91 of the angle member 90 is pivoted at 92 to the bracket arm 88 and the longer arm 93 extends in a generally horizontal direction forwardly beneath the lower edge of the bumper pad 61, the latter being notched at $4 to accommodate the arm 93 of the member 90 which has a beveled lip forming free edge 95. A tension spring 96 is connected between the carriage 67 and the bracket 99 to normally hold the latter with its arm 93 in a horizontal position and against the bottom edge of the stagger bumper pad 60. The pivoted bracket 90 is adapted to support on its forward lip the edges of the sheets which are deposited against the stagger bumper pad 61 when the stagger bumper 60 is in the down position and where it is in engagement with the top sheet on the pile which has been previously accumulated so that when each successive sheet strikes the stagger bumper pad 61 and drops onto the pile the bracket arm 91 prevents the edge thereof from moving beneath the lower edge of the stagger bumper pad 61 as the bumper mechanism moves horizontally due to the force exerted by the impact of the sheet and holds the same in engagement with the face of the pad 61 as the latter is returned, by operation of the air cylinder 53, to its normal position and pushes the sheet into proper position for piling on the top of the pile.

The stagger bumper pad supporting bracket 62 carries on its back face horizontally and vertically extending rib-like projections 97 and 98 which engage with the front face of the main bumper pad 36 and hold the bumper pad 61 in parallel spaced relation with the bumper pad 36 so that the two pads move in a horizontal direction in unison when the sheet strikes the stagger bumper pad 61. This insures the same cushioning of the sheets when the apparatus is used for normal piling or for stagger piling.

The back stop mechanism 24 (FIGURES 7 to 11) is mounted on the end support frame 18 at the entrance end of the conveyor 11 in position for guiding the trailing edge of the sheet downwardly as it is moved back by the retracting movement of the end stop mechanism 23. The back stop mechanism 24- comprises a vertically extending support frame which is in the form of a housing 100. The housing 100 is formed by laterally extending side support plates 1'81 and 1112, a front support plate 103 and a back cover plate 104. The front cover plate 103 provides a vertically disposed support for a bumper plate 105 which is secured on its front face and which may have a cover plate member 106.

A stagger bumper device (FIGURES 7 and 8) is mounted for vertical movement on a pair of laterally spaced chains 111 which are carried on pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower sprockets 112 and 113, the sprockets of each pair thereof being mounted in laterally spaced relation on parallel, horizontally disposed supporting shafts 114 and 115. The uppermost sprocket shaft 114 is secured in fixed relation between the side plates 101 and 1452 at the top of the housing 100. The sprockets 112 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 114 by means of bearings 116 (FIGURE 10). The shaft 114 carries a torsion spring 117 which has one end secured to an internal flange or hub forming portion 118 at one end of a sleeve member 119 which encloses the spring 117 and the center portion of the shaft 114. The other end of the torsion spring 117 is secured to a hub forming portion 120 of one of the sprockets 112. The tension in the spring 117 is adjusted by rotating the sleeve 119, the hub 118 of the iatter being adjustably secured on the shaft 114 by set screws, so as to counterbalance part of the weight of the stagger bumper assembly and facilitate vertical adjustment of the same. The lowermost shaft is journaled by means of bearings 121 in bearing blocks 122 which are slidably movable in vertical slots 123 in the side plates 101 and 102. The bearing blocks 122 are provided with outwardly extending flanges 124 which are engaged by the lower ends of adjusting screws 125, the latter being mounted in horizontal bars 126 extending between the front and back plates 103 and 194 along the outside faces of the side plates 191 and 102 so as to pro vide for proper tension in the chains 111.

The lowermost shaft 115 (FIGURES 9 and 11) carries a center pinion 127 which is engaged by a slidably mounted rack bar 128. The rack bar 128 is mounted in a recess in a vertically extending slide plate 130 which has its vertical side edges grooved to receive track formations on a pair of vertical rail members 131 which are secured in laterally spaced parallel relation on the inside face of the front housing plate 103 in the lower part of the housing. The rack 128 is pivotally connected at its upper end at 132 to the lower end of a piston 133 which depends from a vertically disposed air cylinder 134, the latter having its upper end pivotally connected at 135 to an anchor forming bracket member 136 which is secured to a narrowed upper end portion 137 of the front housing plate 103, so that vertical movement of the rack bar 128 is controlled by the air cylinder 134. A pair of track formations 138 are provided in the plate 103 for guiding and supporting the chains 111 along their forward run between the upper and lower pairs of sprockets 112 and 113. The front plate 163 is slotted at 140 to accommodate the lower sprockets 113 and is recessed or cut back at its upper end at 141 to accommodate the upper sprockets 112, the side plates 101 and 192 being extended at the upper end to receive the sprocket support shaft 114.

The stagger bumper device 110 (FIGURE 8) comprises a vertically disposed bracket-like back stop member 145 having three faces 146, 147 and 148 which extend in upwardly and rearwardly angled planes on which a face plate 150 is mounted, the latter being bent to conform to the faces 146, 147 and 148 of the back stop member 145. The face plate 150 is secured on the member 145 with the lower portion thereof spaced slightly from the bottom face portion 146 of the back stop member by a spacer plate 151. The back stop member 145 has a pair of laterally spaced, rearwardly extending flange formations 152 which provide bearings for vertically spaced pivots 153 and 154 for connecting the member 145 to the chains 111, the uppermost pivot 154 being connected to a link 155 extending from the chains 111 and the lowermost pivot 153 forming one of the link pivots.

The stagger bumper device 110 includes a temporary sheet edge support in the form of an angle member 156 which has a vertically disposed leg 157 secured at its upper end on a pivot 158 journaled in the flange members 152. A tension spring 160 is connected at one end to the upper portion of the back stop member 145 and at the lower end to the free end of an arm forming pin 161 which is secured on the pivot 158 so that the spring 169 urges the member 156 in a clockwise direction around the pivot 158 to hold the other horizontally disposed leg 162 in abutting relation against the bottom edge of the back stop member 145. A lip forming plate member 163 is provided on the free edge of the arm 162 which extends in front of and above the bottom edge of the cover plate 150 and prevents the sheets which settle onto the lip 163 from moving beneath the back stop member 145 while the tier of sheets is accumulated on the same. When the back stop device 118 is moved vertically to permit piling of the sheets with the edge against the normal or main back stop plate 105 the member 156 will swing counterclockwise about its pivot 158 and withdraw the lip 163 from beneath the tier of sheets, allowing the latter to remain on the top of the pile.

The back stop device 110 has a limited vertical movement and in the uppermost position as shown in FIGURE 8 it is moved around the axis of the shaft 114 to an outof-use position between a pair of transversely extending,

sheet supporting rollers 165 (FIGURE 6) which are rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the housing and at sufiicient elevation to guide the sheets which are delivered by the entry conveyor 10 across the top of the back stop 24. The rollers are supported at their inner ends on a bracket forming frame 166 (FIGURE 7) which is secured to a cross frame portion 167 of the end frame structure 18. The frame 166 has forwardly extending parallel arms 168 which are attached at their forward ends to the upper end of the front plate 103 of the housing 100 so that they brace the upper portion of the latter. The rollers 165 are journaled at their inner ends in brackets 170 set on the ends of the arms 168 and at their outer ends in laterally spaced brackets 171 on the end frame structure 118. The rollers 165 are provided on their extended outer ends with sprockets 172 which are connected to the drive mechanism for the delivery conveyor 10 so as to assist in the forward movement of the sheets delivered by the latter. The back stop stagger mechanism 110 in its uppermost position is located between the inner ends of the rollers 165 and thus is beneath the path of the sheets S as they are advanced over the rollers 165.

Side guide members 173 (FIGURES 6 and 7) are provided on the machine for guiding the side edges of the sheets S onto the pile. The side guides 173 which are in the form of elongate housings of rectangular cross section may be mounted as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 on traveling nut formations 174 which are secured to the bottom of the side guide housing and carried in threaded relation on a transversely extending adjusting screw 175, suitably mounted on the end frame. Each of the side guides has journaled in the housing an equalizing shaft 176 which carries on each end a pinion 177 engaging with a transversely extending rack bar 178 mounted on the end support frame so as to insure uniform movement of the side guides 173 on opposite sides of the machine. Since the side guide structure does not form any part of the present invention, it will not be described in detail.

A suitable arrangement for automatically controlling the operation of the apparatus is illustrated in the diagram of FIGURE 12. Current is supplied through the supply lines and the stagger on-and-off switch 180 to a solenoid type sheet counter 181 which has coupled with it a photocell or magnetic switch control indicated at 182. Current is also supplied to the operating valve 183 for air cylinder 80 which raises and lowers the end stop stagger bumper assembly 60 and valve 184 for air cylin der 134 which raises and lowers the back stop stagger bumper 110. The operation of the two valves 183 and 184 is controlled by the counter 181 through the switch indicated at 182.

The sequence of operation of the valves 183 and 184 is illustrated schematically in FIGURES 13 to 15. In FIGURE 13, the stagger operating switch 180 is in the open position and air is supplied through the lines 186 and 187 to both cylinders 80 and 134 through valves 183 and 184 which results in both stagger bumpers 60 and 110 being held in the raised position for removal of the piled sheets. In FIGURE 14 the stagger switch 180 is on and air is supplied to cylinder 134 only through the line 187 and valve 184, line 186 being connected to the exhaust line through the valve 183, which results in stagger bumper 110 being held in raised or retracted position while stagger bumper 60 is allowed to drop to the lowered position as shown in FIGURE 1. In FIG- URE 15, air is supplied to the cylinder 80 only, through the line 186 and valve 183, line 187 being connected to the exhaust line through the valve 184, which results in the stagger bumper 69 being raised and the stagger bumper 110 being lowered.

In operating the illustrated machine for stagger piling, the sheets S are delivered from the feed conveyor 10 to the overhead magnetic conveyor 11 with the position of the switch control arm 20 being adjusted lengthwise of the conveyor 11 so that successive sheets are released above the end stop mechanism 23 in proper timed relation to strike against the forward face thereof as they are carried forward by their momentum. The forward or leading edge of each successive sheet S strikes against either the face of the end stop stagger bumper member 61 or the main bumper stop member 36, depending upon the location of the former. When the stagger bumper device 60 is in the lowered position the forward edge of the sheet S strikes the face of the pad 61 and pushes it backwardly against the main bumper stop pad 36 which carries both bumpers to the left as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the movement being resisted by the air pressure in the cylinder 53. Each sheet S is stopped by its impact with the bumper members and settles onto the pile, the leading edge of the sheet being guided downwardly by the face of the bumper pad 6ft into position on the pile and the sheet edge supporting device 90 preventing the sheet from moving beneath the bottom edge of the bumper pad 61. The back stop stagger bumper assembly 110 is positioned at its uppermost limit or retracted position (FIGURE 8) so that the trailing edge of the sheet is pushed back against the face of the fixed bumper pad 105 by movement of the end stop mechanism 23 and is guided onto the pile with the edge thereof in vertical alignment with the fixed face of the bumper pad 105. When a predetermined number of sheets have been deposited in this fashion, the counter operated control mechanism for the air supply in the cylinders 80 and 134 operates to raise the end stop stagger bumper assembly Git and lower the back stop stagger bumper assembly 110. This allows the forward edges of the next succeeding sheets to strike the face of the end stop main bumper pad 36, while the rear or trailing edges of the sheets S are pushed back against the stagger bumper stop plate 145 by movement of the end stop mechanism 23, the edges of the sheets being prevented from sliding under the face of the stop plate 145 by the sheet edge supporting device 156. When the required number of sheets is deposited in the group, the position of the stagger bumper assemblies is reversed and the cycle is repeated.

The number of sheets which is deposited as a group or tier before the stagger bumper assemblies are moved, depends, of course, upon the nature of the material being handled. The number is selected so that the group of sheets may be conveniently handled by the operator. The usual distance allowed for finger clearance in picking up the sheets is approximately two inches. The distance may be varied by properly proportioning the pad supporting frame members in the stagger bumper assemblies 60 and 110.

The current for operating the electromagnets in the magnetic conveyor may be controlled by some other suitable control device such as an inducto switch which is operated by passage of the sheets and which may also be connected into the electrical circuit so as to control the switch 182 for the sheet counter.

While particular materials and specific details of construction have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the machine, it will be understood that other materials and different details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sheet piler of the class described comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and an end stop mechanism located adjacent the conveyor in position to receive the impact of the leading edges of successive sheets of material advanced by said conveyor and released for deposit in a horizontal position on a pile in front of said stop mechanism, said stop mechanism comprising a main bumper plate, means mounting said main bumper plate for limited retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon initial impact of the sheets with the stop mechanism, an auxiliary bumper plate mounted for vertical movement in front of said main bumper plate, means to selectively position said auxiliary bumper plate at predetermined vertical positions relative to said main bumper plate, a pivotally mounted sheet edge supporting finger resiliently held in a substantially horizontal position at the lower edge of said auxiliary bumper plate, said finger being adapted to engage beneath the sheet and guide the edge of the sheet against the face of the auxiliary bumper member so as to prevent movement of the same beneath the bumper member.

2. A sheet piler of the class described comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and an end stop mechanism located adjacent the conveyor in position to receive the impact of the leading edges of successive sheets of mate,- rial advanced by said conveyor and released for deposit in a horizontal position on a pile in front of said stop mechanism, said stop mechanism comprising a main bumper plate, means mounting the main bumper plate for limited retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon initial impact of the sheets with the stop mechanism, an auxiliary bumper plate mounted for vertical movement in front of said main bumper plate, means to selectively position said auxiliary bumper plate at predetermined vertical positions for stagger piling operations, a sheet edge supporting finger pivotally mounted at the lower edge of said auxiliary bumper plate, means resiliently urging said finger into a substantially horizontal position where it is in engagement with a lower edge portion of said auxiliary bumper plate and extends forwardly of the exposed face thereof, said finger being adapted to support the edge of a sheet which is deposited thereon after striking against the face of the auxiliary bumper member so as to prevent movement of the edge of the sheet beneath the lower edge of the auxiliary bumper plate.

3. A sheet piler of the class described comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and an end stop mechanism located adjacent the conveyor in position to receive the impact of the leading edges of successivesheets of material advanced by said conveyor and released for deposit in a horizontal position on a pile in front of said stop mechanism, said stop mechanism comprising a horizontally adjustable support frame, a pair of pivotally mounted spaced parallel links depending vertically from'said support frame, a bumper plate mounted on the lower ends of said links and supported for movement in a horizontal direction, hydraulic means operative on said links for cushioning the movement of the bumper platein a horizontal direction, means forming a vertically disposed trackway mounted in relatively fixed relation on the support frame, a carriage mounted for vertical movement in the trackway, hydraulic means for raising and lowermg the carriage, a vertically disposed auxiliary bumper plate, and a pair of vertically disposed parallel links pivotally connected to the auxiliary bumper plate and the carriage, said auxiliary bumper plate being positioned for vertical sliding movement against the front face of the end stop bumper plate.

4. A sheet piler of the class described comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and an end stop mechanism located adjacent the conveyor imposition to receive the impact of the leading edges of successive sheets of material advanced by said conveyor and released for deposit in a horizontal position on a pile in front of said end stop mechanism, said end stop mechanism comprising a carriage mounted on said overhead conveyor, means to adjust the position of said carriage along said conveyor, a pair of pivotally mounted parallel links depending from said carriage, a bumper plate bracket pivoted on said parallel links for horizontal movement, a bumper plate disposed vertically on said bumper plate bracket, hydraulic means mounted on said carriage and operatively connected to said parallel links for cushioning the movement of the bumper platein a horizontal direction, means forming a vertically disposed trackway mounted on said carriage, a support bracket mounted for vertical movement in the trackway, hydraulic means for raising and lowering said support bracket, vertically disposed parallel links connected at their upper ends to the upper end of said support bracket, an auxiliary bumper plate connected to the lower end of said last mentioned parallel links, said auxiliary bumper plate being located for vertical sliding engagement with the front face of the end stop bumper plate and being movable therewith in a horizontal direction upon a sheet striking the forward face thereof.

5. A piler mechanism for metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor and an end stop mechanism extending below the conveyor with a vertical face positioned for engagement with the leading edges of successive sheets as they are released by the conveyor for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said end stop mechanism comprising a bumper plate frame, a bumper pad mounted on said frame, a parallel linkage depending from an overhead support and carrying said bumper plate frame for movement in a horizontal path, means for cushioning the movement of said bumper plate frame upon impact therewith of the leading edges of successive sheets with said vertical face, and an auxiliary bumper plate frame located for vertical movement in front of said first mentioned bumper plate frame, means forming a trackway depending from said overhead support adjacent said parallel linkage and bumper plate frame, a carriage mounted in said trackway, a pair of vertically disposed parallel links pivoted to said carriage and to said auxiliary bumper plate frame, means for moving said carriage vertically to adjust the position of said auxiliary bumper plate frame, and means on said auxiliary bumper plate frame for preventing sheets engaging the same from moving beneath the bottom edge thereof.

6. In a machine for piling metal sheets in staggered relation, an end stop mechanism adapted to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are advanced by an overhead conveyor and released for deposit on a pile in front of said end stop mechanism, a fixed back stop plate spaced a predetermined distance from the end stop mechanism which distance is greater than the dimension of sheets in the direction between said end stop mechanism and said back stop plate, said end stop mechanism including a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for cushioned horizontal movement upon initial impact of the edge of a sheet with said bumper plate, a stagger bumper pad mounted for vertical movement in front of said bumper plate, and means for vertically moving said stagger bumper pad from a lowered position where it is engaged by the leading edge of advancing sheets to a raised position out of the path of the advancing movement of the sheets, said fixed back stop plate having associated therewith a stagger bumper stop which is characterized by a pair of chains mounted so that the forward runs thereof move in a vertical path, hydraulic means for controlling the movement of the chains, a stagger back stop device mounted on said chains so that it is movable between a lowered position where it will engage and stop the trailing edge of a sheet at a predetermined distance from the face of the fixed back stop plate-and a raised position where it is withdrawn out of the path of movement of the sheets, and means operative upon the delivery to the conveyor of a predetermined number of sheets to control the relative position of the end stop stagger bumper pad member and the stagger back stop device whereby to stagger pile the sheets.

7. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets in staggered relation comprising an end stop adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of successive sheets as they are advanced by an overhead conveyor and released for deposit on a pile in front of the end stop, a back stop plate spaced a predetermined distance from the end stop which distance is greater than the dimension of the sheets when they are deposited on the pile in the direction between said end 'stop and said back stop, said back stop comprising a vertically disposed stop plate mounted in a fixed position, a pair of laterally spaced supporting chains arranged on pairs of vertically spaced, end supporting sprockets, said back stop plate having vertically extending guideways, said chains having parallel runs in the guideways in the back stop plate, an auxiliary back stop device mounted on said chains for movement in a vertical path in front of said back stop plate, a pinion connected with the lower pair of sprockets supporting said chains, a slidably mounted rack engaging said pinion and an hydraulic cylinder supported in depending vertically disposed position and having the piston thereof connected with said slidably mounted rack whereby the position of said auxiliary back stop device is controlled by said hydraulic cylinder.

8. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets in staggered relation in a pile beneath an overhead conveyor which advances successive sheets from a processing line and releases them for deposit on the pile, spaced end stop and back stop mechanisms adapted to be engaged by the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of successive sheets as they are released by the overhead conveyor, said back stop mechanism comprising a vertically disposed housing having a main back stop plate mounted in fixed position on the forward face thereof, vertically spaced sprockets in said housing and a vertically disposed chain mounted on said sprockets, an auxiliary back stop device mounted on said chain for vertical movement in a path in front of said main back stop member, an hydraulic cylinder depending in said housing, a vertically sliding rack connected to the piston of said cylinder, and a pinion connected with the lowermost end sprocket for said chain and engaging said rack whereby operation of said hydraulic cylinder adjusts the position of said auxiliary back stop.

9. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets in staggered relation in a pile beneath an overhead conveyor which advances successive sheets from a processing line and releases them for deposit on the pile, spaced end stop and back stop mechanisms adapted to be engaged by the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of successive sheets as they are released by the overhead conveyor, said back stop mechanism comprising a vertically disposed housing having a main back stop plate mounted on the forward face thereof, vertically spaced pairs of sprockets in said housing and laterally spaced vertically disposed chains mounted on said sprockets, an auxiliary back stop device mounted on said chains for vertical movement in a path in front of said main back stop member, and a pinion connected with the lowermost end sprockets for said chains, a rack mounted for movement in a vertical path and engaging said pinion, an hydraulic cylinder depending in said housing and having its piston connected to said rack whereby operation of said hydraulic cylinder adjusts the position of said auxiliary back stop device.

10. In a mechanism as recited in claim 9 and a pivotally mounted auxiliary sheet edge supporting finger mounted on said auxiliary back stop device at the lower edge thereof for guiding the edge of the sheet against the face of said back stop device.

11. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets in staggered relation in a pile beneath an overhead conveyor which advances successive sheets from a processing line and releases them for deposit on the pile, spaced end stop and back stop mechanisms adapted to be engaged by the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of successive sheets as they are released by the overhead conveyor, said back stop mechanism comprising a vertically disposed housing having a main back stop plate mounted in fixed position on the forward face thereof, vertically spaced sprockets in said housing and a chain mounted on said sprockets, an auxiliary back stop device mounted on said chain for vertical movement in a path in front of said main back stop member, an hydraulic cylinder depending in said housing, a rack connected to the piston of said cylinder, a pinion connected with the lowermost end sprocket for said chain and engaging said rack whereby operation of said hydraulic cylinder adjusts the position of said auxiliary back stop, and a torsion spring connected with the uppermost end sprocket for counterbalancing the weight of said auxiliary back stop and its supporting chain.

12. A machine for piling metal sheets in staggered relation in a pile comprising an overhead conveyor which advances successive sheets from a processing line and releases them for deposit on the pile, end stop and back stop mechanisms arranged in spaced relation beneath the conveyor. for engagement by the leading and trailing edges of successive sheets as they are released by the conveyor, said back stop mechanism comprising a housing mounted adjacent the receiving end of said conveyor and having a main back stop plate arranged in a vertical plane, vertically spaced pairs of sprockets at the upper and lower ends of said housing and laterally spaced chains mounted on said sprockets, an auxiliary bumper stop mounted on the forward runs of said chains for vertical movement in a path in front of said main back stop plate, an hydraulic cylinder mounted in said housing and having its piston connected to a vertically movable rack, a pinion connected with the lowermost end sprockets for said chains and engaging said rack whereby operation of said hydraulic cylinder adjusts the position of said auxiliary bumper stop.

13. A machine as recited in claim 12 and laterally spaced, transversely extending rollers mounted at the upper end of said housing for supporting a sheet delivered across the upper end of said housing to the overhead conveyor which rollers are laterally spaced to accommdate said auxiliary bumper stop when it is moved to an inoperative position at the upper end of said housing.

14. A piler machine for metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor and an end stop mechanism extending below the conveyor with a vertical face positioned for engagement with the leading edges of successive sheets as they are released by the conveyor for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said end stop mechanism comprising a support carriage mounted for adjustment along said conveyor, a parallel linkage depending from said support carriage, a bumper plate frame supported on said linkage for reciprocating movement in a horizontal path, a vertically disposed bumper pad mounted on said bumper plate frame, means for cushioning the horizontal movement of said bumper plate frame upon said bumper pad being struck by the leading edges of successive sheets released by said overhead conveyor, and an auxiliary bumper mechanism providing a stagger bumper plate mounted for vertical movement in front of said main bumper pad, which auxiliary bumper mechanism comprises a vertically disposed housing pivotally connected to said support carriage in ependent of said main bumper plate frame and resiliently held against swinging movement, track forming means in said housing, a lifting carriage movably mounted on said track, a pair of vertically disposed parallel links depending from said lifting carriage and connected to said auxiliary bumper plate, a generally horizontal lifting arm pivoted at one end to said lifting carriage and at the opposite end to a fixed member on said support carriage, an operating cylinder on said support carriage having a depending piston connected to said lifting arm for raising and lowering said auxiliary bumper plate.

15. A piler machine as recited in claim 14, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the vertically movable portion of said auxiliary bumper mechanism so as to facilitate raising and lowering thereof.

16. A piler machine for metal sheets comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and an end stop mechanism extending below the conveyor and having a main bumper pad positioned for engagement with the leading edges of successive sheets as they are released by the conveyor for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said end stop mechanism comprising a bumper frame on which said main bumper pad is mounted, a vertically extending parallel linkage connected at its lower end to said bumper frame so as to permit movement of the main bumper pad in a horizontal path, a frame-like supporting carriage positioned above said conveyor and having the upper ends of said parallel linkage connected thereto, a longitudinally extending adjusting screw connected'to said supporting carriage and a longitudinally extending trackway along which said supporting carriage is adjustable, means for cushioning the horizontal movement of said bumper frame upon impact of the leading edges of successive sheets with said main bumper pad, an auxiliary bumper device having a stagger bumper pad arranged for vertical movement in front of said main bumper pad, means independent of said main bumper frame forming a vertically extending track depending from said supporting carriage, a stagger bumper carriage mounted for vertical movement on said track, a pair of vertically disposed parallel links depending from said stagger bumper carri-age, a mounting bracket for said stagger bumper pad connected to said parallel links, said main bumper frame and pad having a vertical slot through which said parallel links extend, and means for moving said stagger bumper carriage vertically to adjust the position of said stagger bumper pad.

17. A piler mechanism for sheets comprising a sheet advancing means and a stop mechanism having a main stop plate with a bumper pad thereon located so as to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are advanced by said sheet advancing means and released for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said stop mechanism including a supporting frame, means mounting said main stop plate on said supporting frame for cushioned retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edge of a sheet with the'bumper pad thereon, means forming a vertically ex tending trackway adjacent said main stop plate mounting means, a carriage mounted in said trackway, an auxiliary stop plate having a stagger bumper pad thereon positioned for movement in a vertical direction along the vertical face of the bumper pad on said main stop plate, generally vertical parallel links connecting said auxiliary stop plate to said carriage so that said auxiliary stop plate is movable in a horizontal direction toward and from said carriage while the vertical face thereof is held in a vertical plane, said auxiliary stop plate having rib forming members on the back face thereof for engaging with the bumper pad on said main stop plate so as to engage the same in sliding relation upon impact of the leading edge of a sheet with the stagger bumper pad and control means operated by movement of the sheets to raise the carriage so as to move the auxiliary stop plate fromv a lowered position where the stagger bumper pad is engaged by the leading end of a sheet to a raised position above the path of advancing movement of the sheet.

18. A sheet piler of the class described comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and an end stop mechanism located adjacent the conveyor in position to receive the impact of the leading edges of successive sheets of material advanced by said conveyor and released for deposit in a horizontal position on a pile in front of said end stop mechanism said end stop mechanism comprising a can ri-age mounted on said overhead conveyor, means to adjust the position of said carriage along said conveyor, a pair of parallel links depending from said carriage, a bumper plate bracket pivoted on said parallel links, a bumper plate disposed vertically on said bumper plate bracket, hydraulic means mounted on said carriage and connected to said parallel links for cushioning the movement of the bumper plate in a horizontal direction, a vertically disposed trackway mounted on said carriage, a support bracket mounted for vertical movement in the 15 trackway, hydraulic means for raising and lowering said support bracket, vertically disposed parallel links connected at their upper ends to the upper end of said support bracket, an auxiliary bumper plate connected to the lower end of said last mentioned parallel links, said auxiliary bumper plate being located for vertical sliding movement on the front face of the end stop bumper plate and being movable therewith in a horizontal direction upon a sheet striking the forward face thereof, a sheet edge supporting member pivotally mounted on the lower end of said support bracket and extending forwardly of the 5 auxiliary bumper plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Buccicone Jan. 28, 1958 Bernard June 17, 1958 

